Bhagavan
The eternal ground of all that is — the one from whom all teachings flow
Bhagavan
Early Life of Bhagavan :
Bhagavan, whom we worship as the Adhyastha of the International Vedanta Society (IVS) and revere as the guiding light for spiritual seekers across the world, was born on 3 January 1942 into a family of landlords in the village of Rahamatpur, in the Barishal District of present-day Bangladesh. Before India's independence, during the partition of the Indian subcontinent into East and West Pakistan, Bhagavan's family was among the thousands of Hindu families who were compelled to leave behind their ancestral home, lands, and possessions and migrate to India. Bhagavan's father, Sri Kanailal Chakroborty, later secured employment as a school teacher in Talcher, Odisha.
Although widely respected for his honesty, integrity, and noble character, he struggled tirelessly to provide for his family under difficult circumstances. Unlike the lives of many great spiritual personalities, where miraculous events or extraordinary incidents in childhood are often regarded as signs of future spiritual greatness, Bhagavan's early life was remarkably simple and humble. Yet, within that simplicity lay the subtle indications of His extraordinary nature. Bhagavan possessed an exceptional intellect from an early age. Whatever He heard even once remained permanently etched in His memory. Every task He undertook, whether great or small, received His complete attention and wholehearted dedication. Despite the hardships faced by His own family, His heart was always filled with compassion for those who suffered.
The defining qualities of Bhagavan's character became evident from His early adolescence—an intense thirst for truth and an unconditional love for humanity. One memorable example occurred when Bhagavan was only ten years old. During the scorching summer months, He voluntarily served drinking water to weary and thirsty passengers at the local railway station, finding joy in selfless service. Bhagavan was never known as a ritualistic worshipper of any particular deity, nor did He display a special attachment to religious ceremonies or formal practices. To Him, humanity itself was the highest manifestation of the Divine. He believed that serving mankind was the noblest form of worship, and nothing stood above the dignity and sanctity of human life. In 1971, Bhagavan entered into holy matrimony with His revered consort, Guruma, who is now lovingly revered as the Sangha Janani of the International Vedanta Society. A few years later, their daughter, Debjani, was born. She would eventually become one of the principal torchbearers of the spiritual movement founded by her father. Alongside His spiritual journey, Bhagavan served as an employee of the Indian Railways. Gifted with remarkable artistic talent, He also distinguished Himself as a theatre actor, director, and cultural leader. In time, He established His own theatre group, which earned widespread recognition and appreciation from audiences, cultural circles, and the media. Even during these formative years, Bhagavan's life reflected the ideals that would later inspire thousands of spiritual seekers. His unwavering commitment to truth, profound compassion for humanity, and selfless spirit of service laid the foundation for the establishment of the International Vedanta Society, through which His teachings continue to guide and uplift people around the world.
Bhagavan's Awakening to the Spiritual Quest:
During this period, Bhagavan found Himself deeply affected by the deception and betrayal He witnessed in society. The striking contrast between what people professed and how they actually lived stirred profound questions within Him. While many might have chosen to compromise with the world and move on, Bhagavan took a different path. This painful experience became a defining turning point in His life, leading Him inward into deep contemplation and spiritual introspection.
When truth and honesty themselves seemed to have lost their place in human life, Bhagavan began to question the very purpose of existence. He felt that a life deprived of truth was not worth living, for an existence built upon falsehood and betrayal could never bring lasting peace or fulfilment. Rather than accepting such a hollow way of life, He sought a deeper and eternal Truth.
It was during this time, while visiting the local library, that Bhagavan came across Swami Vivekananda's inspiring poem, "To an Early Violet". Those verses touched the depths of His heart and awakened a profound spiritual longing within Him. That seemingly ordinary moment became the beginning of Bhagavan's spiritual quest—a sacred journey of self-discovery, truth, and God-realization that transformed His life forever.
Bhagavan's Initiation and Guru :
Inspired by Swami Vivekananda's poem "To an Early Violet" and, above all, by the divine life and teachings of Sri Sri Ramakrishna Dev, it was not long before Bhagavan met His revered Guru, Swami Pabitrananda Maharaj, at Shri Ramakrishna Tapovan in Janai, near Kolkata.
Swami Pabitrananda Maharaj was a direct disciple of Swami Krishnananda Maharaj, who had received initiation from the Holy Mother, Sri ma, Sarada Devi, the sacred spiritual consort of Sri Sri Ramakrishna Dev. During the Sannyasa Diksha of Swami Krishnananda Maharaj, the sacred Viraja Homa—an essential and highly significant rite of the monastic initiation—was performed in an important part by Swami Brahmananda Maharaj, the beloved spiritual son and one of the foremost direct disciples of Sri Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansha Dev.
At that time, Bhagavan was serving in the Indian Railways in Guwahati, Assam. Owing to His professional responsibilities, Bhagavan was not blessed with the opportunity to remain constantly at the holy feet of His Guru and receive His teachings in person. Recognizing the extraordinary sharpness, sincerity, and spiritual receptivity of Bhagavan, Swami Pabitrananda Maharaj began imparting profound discourses on Advaita Vedanta through a series of personal letters.
Bhagavan immersed Himself deeply in these sacred letters, contemplating and assimilating their profound spiritual wisdom. These letters contained the very essence of Advaita Vedanta—the highest philosophy of Non-Dualism—and became a guiding light on the path of Self-realization.
In later years, following Bhagavan's order this invaluable spiritual correspondence was compiled and published by the International Vedanta Society under the title "Vedanta Sadhana". It was subsequently translated into English and published as Path to Realization , enabling sincere spiritual seekers across the world to benefit from the timeless Vedantic teachings that Bhagavan received from His revered Guru.
Bhagavan's Attainment of Nirvikalpa Samadhi :
Apart from His professional responsibilities, Bhagavan dedicated every available moment to the contemplation and assimilation of the sacred letters His revered Master wrote to Him. Such was Bhagavan's intense yearning for spiritual wisdom that He would visit the local post office almost every day to enquire whether a letter from His Guru had arrived. More often than not, this puzzled—and at times even irritated—the postmaster, who could not understand why someone would travel personally to the post office when every letter would, in due course, be delivered to its intended address. Such was the depth of Bhagavan's devotion to His Guru and His eagerness to receive every word of spiritual instruction.
The earnestness of Bhagavan's discipleship was equally reflected in His complete spirit of renunciation. It took only a single suggestive letter from His Master, in which He had indirectly indicated that name and fame could become obstacles to the realization of the Supreme Truth, for Bhagavan to renounce His reputation as a celebrated theatre personality forever. At that time, *Bhagavan* was a highly respected theatre director and actor whose acclaimed productions attracted audiences numbering in the thousands. Yet, in unwavering obedience to His Guru's spiritual guidance, He relinquished worldly recognition without hesitation.
Bhagavan would awaken every day at two o'clock in the morning to immerse Himself in meditation. His method of meditation consisted of arresting every thought at the very source of its arising through the aid of a second thought. This subtle and profound method unfolded naturally within Bhagavan and is traditionally regarded as a discipline suited only to highly advanced practitioners of meditation.
In time, Bhagavan resolved to take seven days of casual leave from His office solely for the purpose of uninterrupted Sadhana. Such was the extraordinary strength of Bhagavan's determination that He allowed Himself only those seven days to realize the Ultimate Truth of existence. By the power of His pure intellect, unwavering spiritual discipline, and boundless devotion to His revered Guru, Bhagavan attained the highest state of consciousness—Nirvikalpa Samadhi—on the third day of His seven-day spiritual retreat.
The date was the 15th of December, 1984, which, that year, also coincided with the sacred birth anniversary of the Holy Mother, Sri Ma, Sarada Devi.
Describing this supreme spiritual experience in His personal diary, Bhagavan wrote:
"As I was gazing at the mind, suddenly both my mind and body vanished. What remained was pure realization—the Witness, Consciousness. There was a feeling of pure Bliss. After a while, coming back to my earthly plane, I realized the significance of Sri Thakur's words: 'Once a tadpole sheds its tail and becomes a frog, it can live either on land or in water.'"
In the year 1988, the descent of Mahabhava manifested in Bhagavan, transforming Him into a powerful spiritual dynamo and bestowing upon Him the extraordinary ability to liberate sincere spiritual aspirants through His mere wish or compassionate touch. Soon thereafter, Bhagavan established the International Vedanta Society to disseminate the eternal wisdom of Advaita Vedanta and to guide earnest seekers on the path of Self-realization.